Nigeria Report – December 2013

24Dec

I am sitting here at my desk in my room at Brother and Sister Chijioke Nwauche’s house. There is a cool breeze that is blowing in through my window and it is quite lovely as well as refreshing. It is a breeze that brings to my mind the reality of the breath of God that is moving across Africa. It is breathing upon dry and thirsty souls that have laid in abject spiritual poverty, parched and bleached by the sun of a religious bigotry and held in bondage by the spiritual deception that is perpetrated against them by both men and devils; to ensure that they would not be able to hear, much less respond to this Word of liberation that is now blowing through this valley and on these very, very dry bones.

On our last trip here to Nigeria in August and September, Nancy and I became aware of a wind that is now blowing and increasing in its strength. We were witnesses to the stirring of the dry bones and in the stirring of them we were moved by the Spirit of God to inquire of God as to our part in facilitating that stirring. It was very evident to both of us that when God responded to us with the question, “And what about the sinew?” that He was requiring us to extend ourselves yet more beyond that which had already been required. Luke 17:7, But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 8 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. With this thought in mind and knowing the mind of God for us concerning Africa, I find myself once again here in Nigeria.

Nancy and I determined that it was necessary as well as expedient that we return here to obey God and to share that portion of the burden that was being delegated to us by God concerning this present move of repentance and resurrection. Doing the will of God often comes with tribulation as well as confrontation with princes and their palities (principalities). When we returned to the States in mid-September, Nancy was hit with a case of double pneumonia, which was quite severe, but God’s grace and mercy were extended to us and over a period of time Nancy was able to overcome it. It was determined at that time that Nancy would not accompany me on this particular trip but would remain in the States to rest, relax and to regain her strength as our schedule for 2014 is already quite full. The field that God has given us to work in is expanding and the amount of energy that is required is increasing; moreover, so is the necessity for us to take care and use what opportunities are given to us by God to rest and to regroup and recoup the physical strength that is required in the doing of it.

My departure from the States was on the 4th of December and I arrived in Lagos on the 5th at 3:30 PM. I have to say that my entry into Nigeria was one of the easiest that I have ever experienced in all the years of coming here. I was one of the first in line at the immigration hall and within a very short time had the necessary stamp in my passport without any of the delays that I have been accustomed to. The luggage was even easily accessible within a relatively short time and going through customs was indeed a breeze in comparison to what I have experienced in the past. I have to say that it was evident that God was going before me. I would say that from the time I deplaned, made my way through immigration, luggage and all, I was outside the arrival hall awaiting my ride to show up in less than 45 minutes. The only hitch that I encountered was that the ride had been delayed by heavy traffic for almost an hour. God again intervened on my behalf and sent an angel in the form of a young man who seemed genuinely concerned about my having to wait outside. He gave me his phone so I could speak to the persons that were picking me up and find out what the difficulties were in getting there. He also shielded me from the various taxi drivers and hustlers that one has to contend with in this arena of travel. In due course of time my ride arrived and to quote an old axiom, “all is well that ends well.”

The first stop on this particular journey was in Lekki; a place that might be called a sub-city of Lagos. There is a small group of people that meet there in Brother and Sister Akinyemi’s house (at least that is where the brethren meet when I have been there). I arrived on Thursday and we had meetings from Friday through Sunday before leaving for Port Harcourt on Monday.

The meetings in Lekki went very well. The brethren are always so gracious and hospitable and they always express how appreciative they are of the Word that God is bringing to His people. Such enthusiasm for the Word of God always reminds me of the answer that God gave to Brother duCille when he asked the Lord, “How will I know the people to whom You are sending me?” God said “It will be those who receive you on the basis of the Word that I have given you.” I find that it has a scriptural basis and Jesus Himself was quite explicit in His language concerning it. Matthew 10:39, He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. It was a word of instruction that Jesus was giving to His disciples prior to sending them out; however, I believe that it is a word of instruction that pertains to any and all who are called and elected by virtue of God and sent by His authority to bring the word of God.

On the following Monday, Brother Chijioke, with his daughter and myself in tow, made our way to Port Harcourt via the domestic flights that are available. I have to say that things that pertain to travel in Nigeria have improved greatly and it makes traveling so much easier. This behooves us who have been under this word from the beginning to be cognizant of our responsibilities in bringing this word and making the effort to know when and where to go. We arrived in Port Harcourt the early part of the afternoon on that Monday, Praise the Lord. I was looking forward to a day or two of rest.

The schedule for Nigeria is quite aggressive. We arrived in Port Harcourt on Monday afternoon and the brethren had scheduled two meetings; one meeting on Tuesday night and another meeting, which was their regular meeting, on Wednesday night. I am so very glad to see brethren who want to gather to hear the word of the Lord. It is a blessing and it is scriptural. Hebrews 10:25, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. The message that God is bringing to His people in this hour is one of relationship and exhorting us not to be moved to denominationalism; taking this Word that God has given to us as a platform to organize would be self-destructive. This Word is a Word of light. Light dispels and brings destruction to any and all darkness. It is a scriptural truth. Zechariah 5:2, And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. 3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. 4 I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. God does not look at the ecclesiastical, ecumenical religious system as a church but as the house of the thief. This flying scroll is the Word of the Tabernacle and anywhere that it is sown and or planted it will do that which it is programed to do. Any other purpose than that work is working other than that which it (the flying scroll) has been ordained to do, will eventually implode upon itself. It is out of that rubble and ashes of that destruction that God will find His remnant. Isaiah 61:3, To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

The following Thursday the 12th, we would be back on the road again heading for the city of Uyo. Uyo is a city that is Southeast of Port Harcourt, approximately 200 km in distance. It was one of the first places that I had the privilege of visiting 24 years ago when we first began to come to Nigeria. It was also there that I first encountered one of my major spiritual battles, which proved to be a very valuable lesson. You might say it was where I began to cut my spiritual teeth concerning spiritual warfare. Uyo, I have to say, has been one of the highlights of this trip so far. The response and welcome to our coming was exceptional. We would be there five days; meetings were scheduled for Thursday evening, Friday evening, all day Saturday, and most of the day Sunday. I have to say they were very full days, packed with the Word of God. The size of the meetings and the number of people attending grew each day as word got around that we were there. By Sunday the crowd that was packed into the hall where they normally meet was over 700 to a 1000 people. The enthusiasm that was shown was amazing and the response to the word was phenomenal! The quality of the word that was coming was definitely on a higher plain as God’s presence was in our midst.

That following Monday, the 16th of December, we were back on the road headed to Port Harcourt. We arrived there the latter part of the day and I have to say that I immensely enjoyed unpacking and sleeping the rest of the day.

Upon arriving in Port Harcourt, there were no plans for a meeting that particular day; however, the brethren wanted to take advantage of our presence here and scheduled meetings for Tuesday and Wednesday. Last night, which was Tuesday, the meeting that was held went very well. It always amazes me how God gives you both the physical as well as the spiritual strength to accomplish that which He has given you to do. There were not as many there in number as you would want, considering the longevity and age of the group. The spiritual history of Port Harcourt is that it was one of the first places that invited Brother duCille and Sister Mavis to come and share this particular word. In some respects you might say it was one of the birthplaces of the move of God that was imported by God through them to Nigeria. Let us see what tonight will bring.

I will have to say that I was very encouraged over the attendance tonight; the room was quite packed and God was very faithful to meet with us. There was a very good anointing and the Word of God flowed well. I also want to say that I really appreciate the brethren here in this particular fellowship. The word that has been coming has been quite stern with an admonition to do better. Their attitude and response has been admirable. Tomorrow we will be on the road again, but that in and of itself will be another adventure.

Brethren, please continue to pray for without that support these endeavors would not be possible.